Electric switch for winding drums



C. H. CUNO.

ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR WINDING DRUMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3,1922.

1,422,180. Patented uly 11, 1922.

IN VEN TOR A TTORNE Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. CUNO, OF HERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUNO ENGINEER-ING CORPORATION, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR WINDING DRUMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 3, 1922. Serial No. 533,828.

I To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CUNo, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Meriden,Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulElectric Switch for WindingDrums, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to winding devices for trouble lamps, cigarlighters and other translating devices, and particularly to the meansfor turning the current on and off.

The main object is to provide a simple, ineX ensive but reliable form ofswitch, whic can be readily operated to turn the current on or off, asdesired, irrespective of the rotation of the drum. Many devices of thisgeneral type are intended to turn the current on and oil automaticallyas the drum rotates. Others are dependent upon manipulation of thetranslating device or separate switches carried by the translatingdevice. I have provided a hand-operated switch associated with thecasing which carries the drum.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of a device embodying the improvements of myinvention, the switch being. shown in the on position;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, the translating device and coverbeing omitted;

Fi 3 is a horizontal fragmentary section showing the switch; and

Fig. 4c is a perspective view of a fragment of the casing and theswitch-operating lever separated.

The casing 5 may be of any suitable construction, usually of metal,provided with a face plate or support 6, in which the lamp, cigarlighter or other form of current consuming or translating device isadapted to be supported. I

Inside of the casing is mounted a rotating drum having a hub 8 ofinsulating material, rotatable on a stationary shaft 9. The flange 10 ofthe drum, which contains the well known winding spring, is of metal andconnected to one of the conductors, and also in electrical connectionwith the casing which has the binding post or terminal 11.

The other flange 12 of the drum is connected to the other conductor ofthe pair. Alongside of the flange 12 I mount a spring contact arm 13,which is normally not in contact with the" casing and not in contactwith the flange 12. The foot 14 of this contact member 13 is connectedwith the binding post, or terminal 15, which is insulated from thecasing. Between the switch contact 13 and the casing I interpose aninsulating member 16, the foot of which is held in place beneath theinsulating block 17.

A detent or spacer preferably in the form of a ball 18 is supported in arecess 19 in the side of the casing, adjacent the insulating member 16.Outside of the casing is a slide 20, which has a recess 21 for the ball18, when the switch is in the off position. This slide is supportedbetween the guide fingers 22 at the side of the casing and in theopening 23 in the front flange of the casing. The stop 24 limits theinward movement, and the shoulders 25 limit the outward movement. Theslide is provided with a suitable knob 26 for manipulating it.

When the slide is pulled out from the position shown in Fig. 3, the ball18 pushes against the insulating strip 16 and forces the end of thecontact arm 13 into engagement with surface of the flange 12, so as toeffect electrical contact. The end of the contact arm 13 may bebifurcated, so as to give a relatively slight pressure and yetinsureperfect electrical connection. By extending the contact armconsiderably above the slide, the effective movement of the slide ismultiplied materially. I also prefer to provide a relatively smallrecess 27 for the ball when the switch is in the on position, so as toprevent accidental longitudinal movement. v

By means of this construction the current can be definitely turned on oroff, as desired, without regard to the rotation of the drum or thelocation of the current consuming de vice. The construction is such thatthere is only a light contact between the drum flange and the contactarm of the switch when the switch is on. This keeps the contact surfacespolished and ensures a good connection. It is thus possible to provide agood connection with a pressure that is so light that it furnishes verylittle retardation to the rotation of the drum, either in pulling outthe cord or allowing it to wind up.

I claim:

1. The combination of a casing, a winding drum therein having aconducting flange, a spring arm contact'normally out of engagementtherewith, and a manually Patented July 11, 1922.

operallle slide adapted to force said spring arm -ontact into engagementwith said flange.

2.- The combination of a casing, a winding drum mounted therein andhaving a conducting flange, a contact arm mounted be tween said flangeand said casing, a manually operable slide mounted on the outside ofsaid casing, and means of connection between said slide and said contactarm for operating the same in one direction.

3. The combination of a casing, a rotating drum mounted therein andhaving a conducting flange, a contact arm between said flange and saidcasing, a slide mounted on the outside of said casing, and a ballinterposed between said slide and said contact arm.

4. The combination of a casing having projecting fingers, a slide guidedthereby, a drum mounted in said casing having a conducting flange, acontact arm insulated from said casing and adapted to engage saidflange, and means of connection between said slide and said contact arm.

5. The combination of a casing, a winding drum mounted therein andhaving a conducting fian e, a contact arm mounted adjacent said ange, aninsulating strip mounted between said arm and said casing, a manuallyoperable member carried by said casing having a reces, and a ballsupported between said recess and said strip when the parts are in aclosed circuit position.

6. The combination of a casing, a winding drum mounted therein andhaving a movable part, a spring contact arm normally out of engagementwith said part, a ball supported by the casing, an insulatin stripmounted between said ball and said contact arm, and a manually operablemember for moving said ball.

7. The combination of a casing, a winding drum mounted therein having amovable conducting part, a slide supported by said cas1ng, a springcontact arm mounted in said casing for engaging said conducting part,and a ball supported between said slide and said arm and transmittingmotion from one to the other.

OHARLESH. cUNo.

